DESPITE the blustery conditions, some quality fish were still apprehended during the Poole Bay Small Boat Angling Club's open event, which was judged to a specimen system with competitors only allowed to return their best fish of each species to the scales.

Rob Frances collected the £200 top prize for landing the best flatfish with a 3-3 flounder which is 127.5 per cent of the specimen size, while the round fish section was won by T Mitchenson with a 2-12.5 dogfish which is 92.7 per cent of the specimen size.

Other leading weights in the flatfish section were Kevin Cousen (3-1 flounder), M Burt (2-15.5 flounder), N Tolleford (2-15 flounder) and A Jones (2-8.5 flounder).

Other leading specimens in the round fish section were T Mitchell (35-8 conger), A Painter (10-14 undulate ray), T Ayles (31-1 conger) and D Armstrong (30-8 conger).

The top juniors, who all won a £25 tackle voucher for their efforts, were G Fox, D Chapman, R Fuller and A Murray.

The top charter boat skipper on the day was Steve Porter, while the private boat section was won by R Francis.

RYAN'S FLYING

WHILE Allan Jones won the latest Boscombe & Southbourne SFC roving shore competition with 8-13, which included a 3-9 wrasse, it was nine-year-old Ryan Johnson who was the real star of the show.

The youngster came second after landing four flounder from Poole Harbour, which totalled 5-12. His heaviest fish tipped the scales to 1-15.

Others: 3 Paul Johnson (3-13), 4 Reg Clough (3-12), 5 Tony Ward (3-2), 6 Phil Parkin (1-13).

RAY OF LIGHT

ON the freelance front, 15-year-old Daniel Chapman, who is a member of Poole Bay Small Boat AC, apprehended a fine undulate ray weighing 14-4 while fishing on his father's new boat Alfresco.

WARD'S COD

SHORE anglers have also been finding some nice fish with Tony Ward, who is a member of Boscombe & Southbourne SFC, using lugworm to tempt a 10-0 cod during a daylight session at Abbotsbury.

BASS ON THE DOUBLE

A BRACE of superb bass were caught by anglers fishing out of Lymington on the charter boat Tomkat 2, skippered by John Skeggs. The heaviest predator tipped the scales to 13lb 8oz.

Tad Ruthiford bagged the 13-8 specimen to set a new personal best while fishing with an artificial lure over a rocky outcrop along with a 12lb class outfit.

The second hefty bass which tipped the scales to 13-0 was apprehended by Nick Bachelor. He tempted the specimen while float-fishing a lure over Christchurch Ledge.

SUPER SAM

THE Rovers pegged match at Weston Shore attracted 53 competitors although the expected flounder were few and far between.

Former junior international Sam Deathe won A section with a brace of flatties measuring 63cm followed by Roy Jones (38cm), Fred White (37cm) and Tim Lane (29cm). The second section was won by Andrew Cross with 32cm, followed by Mark Barnett (31cm) and Lee Gatrell (27cm).

TWO'S A CROWD

THE Stamshaw Lake AC open hangover shore competition was even more disappointing with just two of the 43 competitors landing sizable fish. Darren Wilson collected £190 for beaching an 11.5oz flounder, while junior angler Stuart Andrews was £90 better off after reeling in a 10.5oz flattie.

OPEN SHORE EVENTS

THERE are two major open shore competitions on Saturday with Isac staging their pegged event at Weston Shore (Southampton) with fishing from 10am to 3pm. Tickets, which are strictly pre-book only, have been set at £15 inclusive of pools. Full details are available from Trevor Sutch on 07786 962540.